Question 1

Suicidal behavior is common in people with multiple personalities.

Accepted Answer

Research studies have shown a higher risk of suicidal behavior in individuals with dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder). Factors contributing to this risk include a history of trauma, depression, and hopelessness. It is important for individuals with dissociative identity disorder to receive appropriate mental health treatment, including therapy, medication management, and crisis intervention.

Question 2

Identify the type of psychiatric medication that is most helpful in treating the psychological symptoms of HIV patients.
A) mood stabilizers
B) antidepressants
C) antipsychotics
D) anxiolytics

Accepted Answer

Antidepressants are the most helpful in treating the psychological symptoms of HIV patients. HIV is often associated with depression, and antidepressants can be effective in reducing symptoms such as sadness, irritability, and fatigue. Other types of psychiatric medications may be helpful for treating specific symptoms, but antidepressants are generally considered the first line of treatment for depression in HIV patients.

Question 3

The key feature of the dissociative disorders is anxiety.

Accepted Answer

The key feature of dissociative disorders is a disruption in a person's normally integrated sense of identity, memory, consciousness, or perception of the environment, not anxiety. While anxiety may be present in some individuals with dissociative disorders, it is not a defining feature of these conditions.

Question 4

Dissociative amnesia and fugue are usually transient and disappear abruptly.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative amnesia and fugue can be either transient or persistent, and may disappear gradually or abruptly. However, in some cases, the amnesia or fugue state may last for a prolonged period of time.

Question 5

Most instances of dissociative amnesia are selective amnesia.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most instances of dissociative amnesia are selective...

Question 6

In somatic symptom and related disorders and dissociative disorders, anxiety is directly observed in behavior.

Accepted Answer

In somatic symptom and related disorders, distress is primarily manifested through physical symptoms rather than directly observed anxiety. In dissociative disorders, disruptions or discontinuities in consciousness, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior are the primary symptoms, not directly observed anxiety.

Question 7

The majority of diagnosed cases of dissociative identity disorder are male.

Accepted Answer

The majority of diagnosed cases of dissociative identity disorder (DID) are female, with some studies suggesting a ratio of up to 9:1 female to male. However, there is still some debate and controversy around the diagnosis and prevalence of DID.

Question 8

Clinicians treating someone with dissociative identity disorder can sometimes elicit alternate personalities to make themselves known by asking, "Is there another part of you that wants to say something to me?"

Accepted Answer

This is true. Eliciting alternate personalities is one technique used in the assessment and treatment of dissociative identity disorder. Clinicians may ask open-ended questions like, "Is there another part of you that wants to say something?" to encourage these parts to communicate and provide information about the individual's experiences and history.

Question 9

Most cases of people with multiple personalities involve criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not true. While some cases of multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder) can involve criminal behavior, it is not a defining characteristic of the disorder. Many people with the disorder have no history of criminal behavior and lead functional lives.

Question 10

Some people with multiple personalities also show behaviors associated with schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some people with multiple personalities also show...

Question 11

Dissociative amnesia can persist for years.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative amnesia can indeed persist for years, even decades in some cases, and it may require professional treatment to resolve.

Question 12

Multiple personality actually occurs more commonly than schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Multiple personality disorder, now known as dissociative identity disorder, is a relatively rare condition compared to schizophrenia, which affects about 1% of the population.

Question 13

People can be led to believe that they experienced events that did not actually take place.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as "false memory" and there have been many studies that demonstrate how easily memories can be manipulated or altered. This is particularly relevant in the legal system, where eye-witness testimony can be unreliable due to the malleability of memory.

Question 14

The dominant personality in dissociative identity disorder is always aware of the other alters existing in the afflicted individual.

Accepted Answer

In dissociative identity disorder, the dominant personality or the host is not always aware of the other alters or identities existing in the individual. The other identities may have their own unique memories, behaviors, and mannerisms that differ from the host. These alters may also have amnesia for each other or for certain events, which can make it difficult for the individual to recognize that they have multiple identities.

Question 15

In dissociative identity disorder, themes of sexual ambivalence and ambiguity are common.

Accepted Answer

Sexual ambivalence and ambiguity are some of the common themes observed in individuals with dissociative identity disorder. This is often due to the presence of alters (different identities or personalities) with different sexual orientations or preferences, leading to confusion and difficulty in maintaining a consistent sexual identity.

Question 16

The memory loss resulting from dissociative amnesia is irreversible.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative amnesia is usually temporary and reversible. With proper treatment, including therapy and medication, individuals with dissociative amnesia can often regain access to their lost memories.

Question 17

Multiple personality has been traditionally classified as a somatic symptom or related disorder.

Accepted Answer

Multiple personality, now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), has been traditionally classified as a dissociative disorder, not a somatic symptom or related disorder. Dissociative disorders involve a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory, whereas somatic symptom disorders focus on physical symptoms that have a psychological origin.

Question 18

Each personality in people with multiple personalities is so distinct that the personality may have its own allergies and eyeglass prescription.

Accepted Answer

It is true that each personality in people with multiple personalities is so distinct that the personality may have its own allergies and eyeglass prescription. This is because each personality can have unique physical and psychological characteristics that manifest differently in each individual personality.

Question 19

The term "split personality" refers to schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

The term "split personality" is often used inaccurately to refer to multiple personality disorder, which is now known as dissociative identity disorder. Schizophrenia is a different psychiatric disorder that involves delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and other symptoms.

Question 20

Localized amnesia is the most common form of dissociative amnesia.

Accepted Answer

Localized amnesia, also known as selective amnesia, is the most common form of dissociative amnesia. It involves the inability to remember specific events or periods of time, typically associated with a traumatic event or stressful situation.

Quiz 6: Dissociative Disorders, Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders, and Psychological Factors Affecting Physical Health